Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

unlikely:Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

TwistedIvory:unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

TwistedIvory:unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

It's not the illegality that is an issue, it's the mandatory sentencing that I have major issues wish.

thismomentinblackhistory:TwistedIvory: unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

Why aren't people who publically admit to smoking marijuana arrested?

If they were arrested they could just claim that they were joking around or saying it for the image, and it isn't worth the time, money, or publicity fallout to go after someone for it.

There have been famous people who have been arrested and charged for marijuana use when they've been stopped by the police and had it on them.

Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

What drug math?

Let's work backwards... 70 million in tax revenue at 25% rate means 280 million in retail sales. (I will assume that they don't count taxes in the sales figure) Say the retailers add a 50% markup, so the wholesalers are doing roughly $185 million in sales. Say the wholesalers are adding a 50% markup, so the growers are doing roughly $122 million in sales. 280 + 185 + 122 is $587 million, or nearly 600 million dollars in retail and wholesale sales.

TuteTibiImperes:thismomentinblackhistory: TwistedIvory: unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

Why aren't people who publically admit to smoking marijuana arrested?

If they were arrested they could just claim that they were joking around or saying it for the image, and it isn't worth the time, money, or publicity fallout to go after someone for it.

There have been famous people who have been arrested and charged for marijuana use when they've been stopped by the police and had it on them.

This is really bad news for Colorado's drug gangs. Sure they can still sell meth, crack, and a whole host of other drugs, but this has got to put some butthurt to them. Plus, a major reason so many young kids join gangs is to get the respect they think they are getting from all the guys who come up pretending to like them, while they try to buy drugs. Selling pot earns admiration, in some limited form, from a vast swath across society. Selling crack gets you the admiration of crackheads. That's probably not as fun if you are a teenage boy thinking of dropping out of school to become a full time drug dealer.

thismomentinblackhistory:TuteTibiImperes: thismomentinblackhistory: TwistedIvory: unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

Why aren't people who publically admit to smoking marijuana arrested?

If they were arrested they could just claim that they were joking around or saying it for the image, and it isn't worth the time, money, or publicity fallout to go after someone for it.

There have been famous people who have been arrested and charged for marijuana use when they've been stopped by the police and had it on them.

They could be arrested and tested though, no?

Being high isn't illegal, except in certain situations. Possession is.

TwistedIvory:unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

But they knowingly violated a law that we now admit was stupid and has been repealed. They're still alive, which makes for a great opportunity to set things straight. Keeping them in jail at taxpayer expense as a matter of principle is pretty dumb, especially when we as a society have agreed that particular principle is baseless.

It's like keeping slaves in jail for escape attempts after emancipation.

TwistedIvory:unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

It's probable cause, but confession is not always sufficient to bring changes. Given the difficulty in proving the crime after the fact, it's not worth it to arrest someone and bring charges.

Yet in many states one can be charged with driving under the influence of marijuana for a positive drug test result because THC can be detected for days, weeks, and sometimes months after use. Much longer than cocaine.

Shakin_Haitian:thismomentinblackhistory: TuteTibiImperes: thismomentinblackhistory: TwistedIvory: unlikely: Now if they'll just release everyone who's in jail for possession, I think we'll be covered. At least on that front.

While I agree with the sentiment, the people who are jailed for drug crimes knowingly violated the law at the time of the commission of the crime. Making recreational pot legal NOW does not make it legal THEN, too, unless a blanket pardon is issued.

Why aren't people who publically admit to smoking marijuana arrested?

If they were arrested they could just claim that they were joking around or saying it for the image, and it isn't worth the time, money, or publicity fallout to go after someone for it.

There have been famous people who have been arrested and charged for marijuana use when they've been stopped by the police and had it on them.

They could be arrested and tested though, no?

Being high isn't illegal, except in certain situations. Possession is.

2wolves:mrlewish: flucto: Even though I'd never personally touch the stuff, I hope the state gets a massive windfall in taxes. It will be very hard for other states to ignore that.

Not gonna happen when you can grow your own. The state will get the windfalls just 2 years until everybody that wants to grow will. It's not like it's hard to grow.

You underestimate the slothfulness of your fellow citizens.

Exactly. You can brew all the beer you can drink, vint all the wine you can drink, perfectly legally and without paying one red cent in taxes to do so, yet only a tiny sliver of 1% ever do so. The rest hump home a 6-pack for the weekend, and pot will be the same...people will buy it.

mrlewish:flucto: Even though I'd never personally touch the stuff, I hope the state gets a massive windfall in taxes. It will be very hard for other states to ignore that.

Not gonna happen when you can grow your own. The state will get the windfalls just 2 years until everybody that wants to grow will. It's not like it's hard to grow.

It isn't hard to grow, and the moment that Maryland legalized it I'm going to dedicate some square footage in one of my gardens, but I don't see how your assertion holds up.

We still buy some veggies despite my growing of them. For that matter, growing veggies are perfectly legal yet the vast majority of people don't do it and buy theirs at the store. I still buy beer even though I have a homebrew kit. Home brewing is legal yet the vast majority of people buy their beer at the store.

If I grow my own pot I could still see myself buying it sometimes - like before my crop is ready for harvest. Americans like convenience, and not everyone has the space, patience, skill or desire to grow their own anything. Most people will just buy it.

Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

What drug math?

Let's work backwards... 70 million in tax revenue at 25% rate means 280 million in retail sales. (I will assume that they don't count taxes in the sales figure) Say the retailers add a 50% markup, so the wholesalers are doing roughly $185 million in sales. Say the wholesalers are adding a 50% markup, so the growers are doing roughly $122 million in sales. 280 + 185 + 122 is $587 million, or nearly 600 million dollars in retail and wholesale sales.

Honestly, the article doesn't really explain how the taxes work well enough to understand the math. Are the excise taxes applied to wholesale and retail transactions? I just assumed *stupid* because 25% of $600,000,000 is $150m, not $70m.

It's probable cause, but confession is not always sufficient to bring changes. Given the difficulty in proving the crime after the fact, it's not worth it to arrest someone and bring charges.

Yet in many states one can be charged with driving under the influence of marijuana for a positive drug test result because THC can be detected for days, weeks, and sometimes months after use. Much longer than cocaine.

That's a sticky issue that's going to have to be addressed. Testing for THC metabolites doesn't test to see if you're currently impaired - just if you've used at all in a semi-recent time frame. It would be like DUI checkpoints doing hair testing to see if you've been drinking at all in the last few months instead of a breathylizer to see if you're drunk now.

There will need to be an accurate test developed and widely adopted that tests only current active THC intoxication (preferably something cheap enough that users can buy to test themselves before they drive) and some research done to determine what level of THC in the bloodstream is considered the .08 BAC equivalent.

mrlewish:flucto: Even though I'd never personally touch the stuff, I hope the state gets a massive windfall in taxes. It will be very hard for other states to ignore that.

Not gonna happen when you can grow your own. The state will get the windfalls just 2 years until everybody that wants to grow will. It's not like it's hard to grow.

I can barely keep a cactus alive but I tried growing anyway. I was somewhat successful but it really is something you have to stay on top of (at least the method I was using is). At the time, it was more work than I was willing to give for what I ended up getting. I might try again since I still have all the equipment but if the legal prices hold, walking into a store is going to be more attractive than keeping a grow operation going.

Just like I don't brew my own beer, grow my own tomatoes, or raise chickens. It isn't all that hard to do those things, but it's still more work than I want to expend to get those goods.

tl;dr Some will grow, but most people are lazy so I don't think it will be enough to hurt the tax income.

The diversity of illegal products the drug gangs like to traffic is enough that taking one thing out of their lineup isn't enough to kill the whole business. Besides, most of the pot dealers I've know were only in distribution so they could have a consistent supply and make an income while not having to pass a piss test.

Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

Maybe the extra $20 million in revenue is from calculating effective tax? Payroll tax doesn't pay for itself.

Prices were also increased by the new 25 percent tax -- 15 percent excise and 10 percent sales -- on all marijuana purchases in the state that voters approved in November, along with any other local jurisdictional taxes on top of that. Marijuana sales are expected to generate nearly $70 million in tax revenue for Colorado in 2014.

The state projects nearly $600 million in retail and wholesale marijuana sales annually.

Maybe the extra $20 million in revenue is from calculating effective tax? Payroll tax doesn't pay for itself.

/tax math is filthier than cop math

So much so that I just confused myself. I'll stick with the 1040EZ this year.

I'm not trying to be a dick but this whole "as long as it was in the past -- shenanigans, I tell you!" crap from pundits and politicians is really wearing thin when regular people are sitting in jail cells right now for the same thing.

Substitute DUI for weed -- that would be a different ball game, right? "I used to drive drunk." Nobody is stepping up to say that.

the legal stores are just tourist traps.$50 for an eighth! No lie...I get that people in like... Shreveport might dig that price. But Colorado? Hell, I didn't even pay that much in Iowa last time I was there.The retail stores are for idiots and tourists. They offer everything the medical side has at a 33% markup (on average thus far). Grow your own with your friends! That's the best part of the law. Medical cards have essentially just turned into a "Colorado Resident Discount" card.

mrlewish:flucto: Even though I'd never personally touch the stuff, I hope the state gets a massive windfall in taxes. It will be very hard for other states to ignore that.

Not gonna happen when you can grow your own. The state will get the windfalls just 2 years until everybody that wants to grow will. It's not like it's hard to grow.

People can also grow their own vegetables, most people don't. Not everyone wants to dedicate an entire room in their home to growing pot and anything you would get from an outdoor grow is inferior to the product available in the stores.

10up:the legal stores are just tourist traps.$50 for an eighth! No lie...I get that people in like... Shreveport might dig that price. But Colorado? Hell, I didn't even pay that much in Iowa last time I was there.The retail stores are for idiots and tourists. They offer everything the medical side has at a 33% markup (on average thus far). Grow your own with your friends! That's the best part of the law. Medical cards have essentially just turned into a "Colorado Resident Discount" card.

What's the worth of your time and space you'd have to devote to a grow op? How bout the cost of the lights, hydro equipment, fertilizers, seeds/starter-plants, etc? It's been pointed out numerous times already - you can grow your own vegetables, brew your own beer, or even make your own wine legally, but most people can't be bothered. The retail shops offer a convenience that many people will pay for. Plus, I can see a lot of people not wanting to get medical cards because then their name is associated with weed 'in the system'.

AFAIK buying on the street is still illegal in CO, so I could see CO law enforcement starting to crack down on street/unlicensed dealers now as a tax revenue protection measure.

thismomentinblackhistory:I'm not trying to be a dick but this whole "as long as it was in the past -- shenanigans, I tell you!" crap from pundits and politicians is really wearing thin when regular people are sitting in jail cells right now for the same thing.

Substitute DUI for weed -- that would be a different ball game, right? "I used to drive drunk." Nobody is stepping up to say that.

DUI isn't the same as using marijuana. You can smoke marijuana without driving high just like you can drink alcohol without driving drunk.